The Arts Continue To Enjoy Growing Patronage

The Arts Continue To Enjoy Growing Patronage

249 sponsors have been conferred the Arts Supporter Award and the Patron of the Arts Awards in recognition for their past year’s contributions to nurture the Singapore arts scene. Between the 214 corporations and 35 individuals, $26.6 million was pledged to the arts in 2010. This is an increase of $4.5 million from the $22.1 million received from the 201 corporations and 39 individuals in 2009, a 20% jump from the previous year. In 2010, 64 of the 249 sponsors were first-time donors who will join the ranks of the 185 repeat and long-term arts patrons. This increase is an indication of sponsors taking a greater stake in growing and developing the Singapore arts scene.

Patronage was mainly targeted at four key areas: direct donations to arts groups and institutions, presentation and advancement of the arts, infrastructure and facilities enhancement, and talent development through scholarships and bursaries.

Benson Puah, chief executive officer of the National Arts Council said, "We are grateful to the giving individuals and companies whose generous contributions underscore that the arts belong to everyone and is a shared responsibility. A diversity of funding sources – not just from the government – is crucial to meet the increasing needs of the mature, developing and emerging artists and arts groups."

He added, "Just as important is how we can better support the efforts of those involved in harnessing the social benefits of the arts as a means to enrich or to connect communities. Indeed, as the power of the arts to transform lives becomes more apparent, we look forward to more patrons investing in the arts and becoming a vital part of our arts ecosystem."

Cecilia Ang, an administration executive in a leading technology company, is among the wider public whose family has benefitted from the private-people sectors’ investment in the arts. Bengawan Solo’s sponsorship of the Mother’s Day Special performances under Esplanade’s Beautiful Sunday series made it possible for her to step into the Esplanade Concert Hall with her mother for the first time.

She said, "As first-time concert attendees, my mum and I had an unexpectedly enjoyable time and bonded over the music. The experience even extended to a lively post-concert discussion over our favourite singers and genres! I have always treated my mum to a good meal when it comes to special occasions, but I think I may have found a better way to spend time with my mum. Best of all, there are now many free arts events happening in Singapore on a daily basis and we don’t need to have any special occasion to enjoy the arts."

Arts Supporter Award Ceremony

Date : 27 September 2011, Tuesday

Time : 6.30pm

Venue: Goodman Arts Centre

Guest-of-Honour: Mr Chan Chun Sing

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports & Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts

A total of 154 Arts Supporters received the awards personally from their beneficiaries in a ceremony officiated by Mr Chan Chun Sing, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports & Minister of State for Information, Communications and the Arts on 27 September. The recipients, comprising 124 organisations and 30 individuals, from various industries such as finance, engineering, construction, food and healthcare, donated a total of $3 million to the arts in 2010.

Beneficiaries of the $3 million range from arts groups such as the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Dance Theatre, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Wild Rice, to festivals like Noise Singapore, Pesta Raya and Singapore Street Festival, and arts institutions Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and LASALLE College of the Arts.

The Arts Supporter Award recognises patrons who have contributed between $10,000 and $49,000 to the promotion and development of the arts. The Award aims to encourage a wider sector of the community, particularly local businesses, small and medium enterprises, grassroots organisations and community groups to support the arts. 3

Patron of the Arts Awards Dinner

Date : 29 September 2011, Thursday

Time : 6.30pm

Venue: Goodman Arts Centre

Guest-of-Honour: Dr Yaacob Ibrahim

Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts

A total of 95 Patrons, of which 13 of them are first-time recipients, were honoured at an awards dinner graced by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts on 29 September. The recipients comprised 15 Distinguished Patrons, 5 Patrons, 40 Friends and 35 Associates of the Arts. In total, 89 organisations and 6 individuals contributed $24.5 million to the arts in 2010.

Distinguished Patron of the Arts Award: for contributions above $1.5m

(15 recipients)

The 2011 Distinguished Patron category welcomes City Developments Limited and Samuel Seow Law Corporation as first-time recipients of the Distinguished Patron. Both corporations have been active donors to the arts in the past: City Developments Limited since 1998 and Samuel Seow Law Corporation since 2006. City Developments Limited supports the visual arts scene while Samuel Seow Law Corporation continues to support various arts projects through sponsorship of legal services.

Among the 15 Distinguished Patrons are long-term sponsors who have been receiving the award for over a decade. They are the Singapore Press Holdings (19th award this year), OCBC Bank (13th award this year), Lee Foundation (12th award this year) and NTUC Income Insurance Cooperative Limited (12th award this year).

The Distinguished Patron of the Arts Award recognises individuals or organisations that receive the Patron of the Arts Award on the fifth consecutive occasion. It is also awarded for contributions of $1.5 million and above in a year. For every subsequent yearly contribution of $300,000, the organisation or individual will continue to receive the Award.

Patron of the Arts Award: for contributions above $300,000

(5 recipients)

Five corporations – Coca Cola Far East Ltd, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Old School, Tan Chay Bing Education Fund and UBS AG Singapore Branch will receive the Patron of the Arts Award this year due to their increased support for their respective causes this year. 4

Friend of the Arts Award: for contributions between $100,000 and $299,999

Mrs Dorothy Chan, a donor since 2001, was the highest individual donor for 2011, with her continued support for the Singapore Lyric Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. She and 14 other corporations are former Associate of the Arts and Arts Supporter recipients who have increased their support.

Associate of the Arts Award: for contributions between $50,000 and $99,999

(35 recipients)

This category sees eight first-time sponsors, of which six of them are corporations: AVS Printing, Elevation Developments, First Capital Insurance Limited, iknow Pte Ltd, Koelnmesse Pte Ltd – Singapore and Swissotel The Stamford Singapore. The two individuals are Mrs Oei-Chu Yue Mei and Mr Rangareddy Jayachandran.

We invite you to the Arts Supporter Award Ceremony and the Patron of the Arts Awards Dinner, and appreciate your coverage of the individuals, organisations and companies who have contributed so generously to the arts.